#CostaRica 🇨🇷 #LaborAlertBDS: December 1st will be a Non-Mandatory Paid Holiday
December 1st has been declared Army Abolition Day.
On March 18, 2020, the General Immigration and Foreigners Agency closed its doors to the public, thus limiting the submission of new residency applications and changing the modality of a few services to an electronic format.
This has made it very difficult to submit new procedures or to complete those applications that were already underway. Although it is true the institution has made an effort to provide legal protection to those people who for some reason were in the country waiting to legalize their immigration status, the truth is that the closure adopted by this entity has slowed down the services they provide.
This Wednesday, RESOLUTION N° DJUR-0105-07-2020-JM was published in the Official Gazette, with measures for providing services to the public under which the Agency will operate. Among these the following stand out:
1. One of the most relevant consists in the extension of the deadline to receive new requests for legal permanence, which changed from July 18 to September 18, 2020.
2. First-time or renewal of DIMEX applications will only be made through Correos de Costa Rica or Banco de Costa Rica, upon appointment.
3. The validity of refugee cards was extended until September 18, 2020.
4. The validity of work permits was extended until September 18, 2020.
5. Dates of interviews for those requesting refugee status will be published on the website www.migracion.go.cr
6. No appeals, reviews, or requests for file copies will be received before September 18, 2020.
7. Appointments for DIMEX renewals will not be granted for people who have a marital relationship, and the validity of said document will be extended until September 30, 2020.
8. The validity of the DIMEX for persons authorized as Permanent and Temporary Residents and under Special Categories will be extended.
9. The term for legal permanence under the tourism subcategory was extended until November 18, 2020, for those who entered after December 17, 2019.
2. First-time or renewal of DIMEX applications will only be made through Correos de Costa Rica or Banco de Costa Rica, upon appointment.
3. The validity of refugee cards was extended until September 18, 2020.
4. The validity of work permits was extended until September 18, 2020.
5. Dates of interviews for those requesting refugee status will be published on the website www.migracion.go.cr
6. No appeals, reviews, or requests for file copies will be received before September 18, 2020.
7. Appointments for DIMEX renewals will not be granted for people who have a marital relationship, and the validity of said document will be extended until September 30, 2020.
8. The validity of the DIMEX for persons authorized as Permanent and Temporary Residents and under Special Categories will be extended.
9. The term for legal permanence under the tourism subcategory was extended until November 18, 2020, for those who entered after December 17, 2019.
The following are some of the few services that are being provided on a normal basis:
1. Services comptroller: received by mail.
2. Notifications will be made by electronic means.
3. Request for “previos” 1 to be presented to the CCSS will be made by email.
4. Requests for migratory movement certifications will be done by mail.
5. Passport applications will be handled normally.
6. Exit permits for minors will be handled normally at the Immigration and Foreigners Agency offices.
For requesting travel documents and identity and travel documents, any appointments will be processed through the website www.migracion.go.cr
[1] “Previos” refers to a document certifying that the immigration procedure has been approved, so that the Costa Rican Social Security Administration (CCSS) may proceed to provide social security coverage to the foreign citizen.
Collaboration by our partner: Joaquín Acuña / jacuna@bdsasesores.com
This and other pieces are available on our Café Laboral blog with La Nación newspaper.